The Essays of Michel de Montaigne, by Michel de Montaigne

Chapter 34

Of One Defect in Our Government

My late father, a man that had no other advantages than experience and his own natural parts, was
nevertheless of a very clear judgment, formerly told me that he once had thoughts of endeavouring to introduce this
practice; that there might be in every city a certain place assigned to which such as stood in need of anything might
repair, and have their business entered by an officer appointed for that purpose. As for example: I want a chapman to
buy my pearls; I want one that has pearls to sell; such a one wants company to go to Paris; such a one seeks a servant
of such a quality; such a one a master; such a one such an artificer; some inquiring for one thing, some for another,
every one according to what he wants. And doubtless, these mutual advertisements would be of no contemptible advantage
to the public correspondence and intelligence: for there are evermore conditions that hunt after one another, and for
want of knowing one another’s occasions leave men in very great necessity.

I have heard, to the great shame of the age we live in, that in our very sight two most excellent men for learning
died so poor that they had scarce bread to put in their mouths: Lilius Gregorius Giraldus in Italy and Sebastianus
Castalio in Germany: and I believe there are a thousand men would have invited them into their families, with very
advantageous conditions, or have relieved them where they were, had they known their wants. The world is not so
generally corrupted, but that I know a man that would heartily wish the estate his ancestors have left him might be
employed, so long as it shall please fortune to give him leave to enjoy it, to secure rare and remarkable persons of
any kind, whom misfortune sometimes persecutes to the last degree, from the dangers of necessity; and at least place
them in such a condition that they must be very hard to please, if they are not contented.

My father in his domestic economy had this rule (which I know how to commend, but by no means to imitate), namely,
that besides the day-book or memorial of household affairs, where the small accounts, payments, and disbursements,
which do not require a secretary’s hand, were entered, and which a steward always had in custody, he ordered him whom
he employed to write for him, to keep a journal, and in it to set down all the remarkable occurrences, and daily
memorials of the history of his house: very pleasant to look over, when time begins to wear things out of memory, and
very useful sometimes to put us out of doubt when such a thing was begun, when ended; what visitors came, and when they
went; our travels, absences, marriages, and deaths; the reception of good or ill news; the change of principal
servants, and the like. An ancient custom, which I think it would not be amiss for every one to revive in his own
house; and I find I did very foolishly in neglecting it.